Major League Baseball Kicks Off in Tokyo, Japan

Daisuke Matsuzaka got rocked early but Boston started the 2008 season with a win. (AP Images)

Were you up for the start of the Major League Baseball season as Oakland and Boston kicked things off in Tokyo, Japan at 6 a.m. this morning?

I live on the West Coast so was dead asleep (the equivalent of a baseball game for at least one Beat staffer) but at the crack of dawn practically sprinted to the computer to see how my Fantasy Baseball team started off the season:

Six strikeouts for Dice-K and a win for Hideki Okajima. Not too bad! I love me some Japanese.

You can bet I’ll be doing the same thing tomorrow as the Red Sox and A’s play game two of their overseas season opening series at 6 a.m. ET.

In game two, Boston lefthander Jon Lester takes to the mound against Oakland Ace Rich Harden.

Twenty-four year-old Lester was 4-0 last season after recovering from cancer and now finds himself a key part of the defending World Series Champion’s rotation.

Harden finished last season with a career low 2.46 ERA but only pitched in seven games because of arm trouble.

Boston is -117 favorites on the moneyline, while the total is 9.5.

For all MLB odds visit the Bodog sportsbook.